Pride

A major theme in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes as well as in the Book of Mormon is the destructive nature of pride. “Pride goeth before destruction,” says one of the proverbs (Proverbs 16:18; see also Proverbs 18:12). And at the end of the Nephite civilization, Mormon diagnosed the root cause of their fall: “The pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent,” he wrote to his son (Moroni 8:27).

Here are some principles regarding pride and humility that appear in both the Old Testament wisdom books and in the Book of Mormon:

1. Humility opens the door to God’s grace.

• “Surely [the Lord] scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly” (Proverbs 3:34).
• “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

Book of Mormon connection: God tells Moroni, “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me” (Ether 12:27).

2. Pride distorts self-perception.

• “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).
• “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Proverbs 26:12).

Book of Mormon connections: Jacob warned that when people become learned, “they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not” (2 Nephi 9:28). Also, Nephi quotes the following warning from Isaiah: “Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!” (2 Nephi 15:21; compare Isaiah 5:21).

3. Pride prevents people from receiving correction.

• “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Proverbs 9:8).
• “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction” (Proverbs 3:11).
• “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished” (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Book of Mormon connection: Nephi reproves his brothers: “If ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us” (1 Nephi 16:3).

4. Pride causes contention.

• “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10).
• “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat” (Proverbs 28:25).

Book of Mormon connection: Alma sorrowed when he saw church members beginning to be “lifted up in the pride of their eyes.” As a result, “they began to be scornful, one towards another,” and subsequently, “there began to be great contentions among the people of the church” (Alma 4:8-9).

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Today I will humble myself by receiving correction graciously and avoiding contentious thoughts and words.